Twitter 3.3 for iOS adds quick bar, chat-like messages, more

Twitter has released an update to its iOS app, bringing a cleaner user interface and a handful of new features to the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

The most useful features are probably support for autocomplete @usernames and #hashtags, a redesigned compose screen with easy access to buttons for adding a photo or location, and an improved direct messages screen which looks like a chat app. There’s also automatic URL shortening.

Possibly the least useful/most annoying feature? The new “Quick Bar” which shows up at the top of your timeline showing trending topics and other information, including trends based on your location… and promoted messages.

When I fire up the Twitter app, I’m not usually looking for trending topics, I’m checking in to see what the people I know are talking about. I don’t really care about trends and find it kind of frustrating that the top of my timeline screen is now given over to them.